ALS Walk highlights the coming weekend

A high school game to cover on Friday night, an important Lehigh-Holy Cross game on Saturday, a short story on the District 11 team tennis championships also on Saturday, and, some family stuff, too, like the Emmaus Halloween Parade for my 5-year-old, Aimee, on Saturday night.

Oh, and I'll fit it a little junket to Atlantic City with the Lehigh Valley Softball Hall of Fame group on Sunday.

But the most important thing I'll do is on Saturday morning when I will walk in the Lehigh Valley Walk to D'Feet ALS, which will begin at Lehigh Valley College and continue through the Promenade Shops and last three miles in total.

I mention the event not to draw attention to myself. Hundreds of walkers will participate and they're all to be commended, as well as anyone who contributes a single dollar to any of the walkers.

However, with another holiday season coming up, I always think it's good just before the hustle and bustle begins to remember those we've lost, and those who are suffering from debilitating diseases like ALS.

I've written a lot of stories in recent years about people of all ages in the sports world who we've lost much too soon, and people still with us who keep up their fighting spirit and try to help others even when they're going through so much adversity themselves. I admire those people so much.

Talking to Donna Katcher, the former Parkland High softball star and new member of the Lehigh Valley Softball Hall of Fame, is what really sparked my interest in doing the walk. Donna has ALS, but you'd never know it with the way she attacks life and is determined to help others. What a great lady she is and I'm happy to be part of Donna's Dugout team. Same for wife, Margie.

And, doing stories on former Northwestern Lehigh and Lehigh football star Brett Snyder has heightened my interest and desire to help ALS as well. Like Donna, Brett displays so much courage, perseverance and passion every single day. I admire them and wish I could be half as noble.

I know that there are many great causes to support out there. In my career at the paper, I have tried my best to spotlight as many as I possibly can. In a world where the negative stories all too often dominate the headlines, I'm constantly reminded of so many people who are out there doing a lot of great things every day, every week, every month. They don't do it because they want the attention They do it because they care and want to help their friends and family and their fellow man.

A lot of those people will be walking on Saturday morning.

If you're interested in sponsoring anyone in Donna's Dugout or anyone at all in the ALS walk, here's the link: